Quiz – Heavy Hitters

I’ve given you guys some really tough quizzes in the last while, so here’s an easier one (I think).

After the jump is a list of sluggers. What distinguishes this group of players among all batters since 1901?

Congratulations to Stuart and Richard Chester! They identified that the hitters in this quiz all have at least 3 qualifying seasons with more extra-base hits than singles. Sixty-eight other hitters have one or two such seasons. All of these seasons are here.

Player
Barry Bonds
Babe Ruth
Mark McGwire
Adam Dunn
Carlos Delgado
Jim Thome
Mike Schmidt
Hank Greenberg
Carlos Pena
David Ortiz
Jim Edmonds

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/28/2012.

Hint: These players have accomplished a certain feat more often than the other 68 players who have also done this.

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CursedClevelander

12 years ago

Hmm…interesting group. With most of these guys, I immediately jump to K’s, but I highly doubt it’s K-related because Bonds is on the list.

JoshG

12 years ago

Most career strikeouts among players who have hit at least 40 home runs in a season?

JoshG

12 years ago

Reply to JoshG

That’s definitely not it…

wlcmlc

12 years ago

At least 2 years of 40+ homeruns and 100+ walks.

Author

Doug

12 years ago

Nothing close yet.

Editor

John Autin

12 years ago

Doug, is it a game feat?

Author

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

No, it’s a season feat.

kds

12 years ago

Most seasons with ISO > BA?

Author

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to kds

No.

But, sort of, kind of, a little bit in the right direction.

Dan

12 years ago

Multiple seasons with more walks than hits? Just a wild stab.

Author

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Dan

No, that’s not it.

Jeffrey

12 years ago

These guys have driven balls quite a distance. I don’t see what the solution is, but a good part of them are their clubs’ all time homerun leader.

Barry Bonds – San Francisco
Babe Ruth – New York
Mark McGwire – Oakland
Carlos Delgado – Toronto
Jim Thome – Cleveland
Mike Schmidt – Phillies
Carlos Pena – Tampa Bay

I’m thinking maybe something with SLG, ISO, or other power related statistics.

Author

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Jeffrey

Yes, related to slugging.

Voomo Zanzibar

12 years ago

Joe Girardi – most seasons putting journeymen relievers on the mound during the 9th inning of a tie game instead of his closer.

(Sorry for the non-relevant post – just had to vent somewhere immediately…)

MikeD

12 years ago

Reply to Voomo Zanzibar

Would you really have felt more comfortable with Soriano? : -)

But, yeah, that is a frustrating trait of pretty much all managers. Just ask Philly fans, who didn’t seem Papelbon used for what seemed like weeks.

Stuart

12 years ago

Most seasons with more extra base hits than singles.

Richard Chester

12 years ago

Three or more seasons with more XBH than singles for qualifying batters.

Author

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Richard Chester

Bingo.

Well done, Richard.

And you too, Stuart.

Richard Chester

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

Stuart should get most of the credit, about 90%.

Jimbo

12 years ago

Delgado with 99 XBH that year to beat out his 97 singles. What a year, I watched just about every game. It’s hard to imagine looking at Carlos Delgado’s raw numbers that he isn’t a hall of famer. But a quick early end to his career and playing 1b during the steroid era makes him look like he quite likely won’t make it. In fact, the Blue Jays have had 3 first baseman pass through or play large parts of their careers with the team in the last 25 years that probably all will just miss the HOF. Possibly all… Read more »

Hartvig

12 years ago

Reply to Jimbo

Cecil Fielder also played there within that time frame and while he fell well short of having a HOF career, there was a time when some people thought it might turn out otherwise. I never could understand the complete lack of support for Olerud. He’s the exact same type of player as Mark Grace only better in almost every facet of the game. He got on base more and hit with more power in spite of spending his career is worse parks for hitters. He was a better fielder. The only things that Grace was better at were base stealing… Read more »

Paul E

12 years ago

Reply to Jimbo

Jimbo,
The other day Andy ran the “Is Paulie Konerko a Hall of Famer” post and, quite honestly, Konerko couldn’t serve as “chief jock-carrier” for Delgado and McGriff. And, I don’t believe he’s any better than Olerud….oh, well

Jimbo

12 years ago

Reply to Paul E

Olerud had by far the most WAR out of all the players (Delgado and McGriff also have 40+, while Konerko is way behind and Cecil only had 14.7)

1b defensive WAR is strange though. I find it hard to imagine that Olerud was truly a more valuable player than Delgado.

Editor

John Autin

12 years ago

Another good one, Doug! I wish I had your knack for this. 🙂